Convert GAS Briggs V-Twin to DIESEL?

[Bertrrr]

No way is this a good Idea.

 

[StarTech]

And even one pickup owner parked his truck in Florence, AL along hwy 72 near downtown with a small tree with lemons hanging all over it.

 

[sailingharry]

Try to remember - the USA is NOT the centre of the known universe.
In my part of the World turbo diesel vehicles from around 1.6 - 3.5L are very popular and have been so for very many years.
Light commercials (2.2 - 3.5L Ford, Issuzu, Toyota, Mazda, VW, MB, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Photon, LDV, etc) are amongst the best selling vehicles of all.
American (Ford Chev & Dodge) petrol powered, big utes, have recently become trendy. Their appalling fuel economy is already impacting negatively on their resale value.

I am a diesel lover stuck in an anti-diesel country....LOL. My boat has a wonderful 54hp Yanmar (that uses 5 quarts of oil, BTW). I had two diesel VW wagons -- yes, they had a turbo, but WOW would they accelerate! My top MPG trip was 50MPG over a 200mile trip. Yes, really! To be fair, I was "trying" and so did the entire trip at the posted speed limit -- doing the normal 10-15 MPH over the speed limit kills fuel economy.
I do find it interesting that the US is considered an environmentally irresponsible country, with Europe much more progressive. But, diesel is ubiquitous in Europe, and can't get through the US environmental regulations (putting aside issues like cost and customer preference). It's always struck me as an odd situation.

 

[RolandW]

Is it April 1 already? This has to be a joke.

 

[Elkins45]

B&S used to publish info on how to run their small engines on kerosene. IIRC you were supposed to stack a second head gasket onto the first for some reason, then install a second fuel tank with a selector switch. You start the engine on gasoline and once it's warm you flip the fuel switch and run it on kerosene. Before shutting it off you switch back to gas so the fuel system isn't full of kerosene the next time you try to start it.

It's not diesel but at least it might work.

 

[bentrim]

Don't think it is possible. Not enough compression, the block is not strong enough to handle the compression increase, the rods are too weak, no way to put injectors in the head.
As for a turbo many farm tractors have not used a turbo the AC D19 was the first, then other manufacturers started using them. There was a company M&W that made kits to put them on nonturbo engines. Some successful and some not. If memory is right the 4320 was JD first attempt. Many early farm tractors were not turboed and ran and worked just fine. That said some farmers installed turbos and turned down the fuel to get original HP they did it for better fuek efficency.
If you wanted to try anything it would be easier to convert it to ALL FUEL. These used "tractor fuel often refered to as distolate" You need two fuel tanks a small tank for gasoline for starting and a large tank for fuel. Start on gas warm up switch to fuel, to shut off switch back to gas so it will start next time. The problem with tractor fuel is there is a substantial power loss.

Forgot Briggs did has a three cylinder diesel made by Dihatsu and Toyota They have been out of production for many years because of many issues.

 

[RevB]

Alright, I'm gonna cut the chit chat and get to the question: COULD I convert my Briggs and Stratton V-Twin (445677) to use Diesel Fuel? It seems feasible to me. Would the oem carburetor work, or would I have to somehow make it fuel-injected? I think that if I replace the spark plugs with glow plugs, maybe get oversize rings or something else to increase the compression, and probably mess with the timing a bit, it should run. Any Ideas? Any diesel techs out there? I would probably have to get billet rods too. TIA

No.

 

[Gord Baker]

Alright, I'm gonna cut the chit chat and get to the question: COULD I convert my Briggs and Stratton V-Twin (445677) to use Diesel Fuel? It seems feasible to me. Would the oem carburetor work, or would I have to somehow make it fuel-injected? I think that if I replace the spark plugs with glow plugs, maybe get oversize rings or something else to increase the compression, and probably mess with the timing a bit, it should run. Any Ideas? Any diesel techs out there? I would probably have to get billet rods too. TIA

Since you don't know enough about Diesel or other engines (they don't have a Carb) best to buy one if you must have a Diesel or use what you have. Oversize Rings??????????? uh no.

 

[Mfb]

GM got that idea in the late 70s . 5.7 ended up in a class action lawsuit , they never stopped the head bolts from breaking after three attempts , all different crankshafts from breaking, reengineered injector pumps with timing advance in them so they would start below 35 degrees, all the accessory brackets broke from vibration. If you want to try a conversion look at propane . Tried and true and proven and plenty of you tube videos .

I know whereof @Rocky J speaks...best thing I never did is buy that diesel Caddy Eldorado!! Not like I was trying to, but in my no-spare-change-youth dad said I could have some gas from one of his cans for my BMW R60/5 twin motorcycle, so filled my however-much empty tank with remnants of the can. Don't know how, but it DID run on that diesel/gas mix, belching smoke every rotation while I continued to top the tank off to get rid of the diesel. All those Standard Oil cans looked the same!

 

[SamB]

Since you don't know enough about Diesel or other engines (they don't have a Carb) best to buy one if you must have a Diesel or use what you have. Oversize Rings??????????? uh no.

YES! Easy way to convert ZTR to diesel is only one word......Kobota! Several sizes to choose from.